A LLANIDLOES company specialising in filtration products for photographic processors has doubled its workforce and expanded into new premises.

Photogenic moved to the Welsh Development Agency's Parc Hafren Business Park in Llanidloes in 1999, then employing 10 people.

This month the company has moved into a new 5,000sq ft (500sq metres) unit on the business park where it now employs 20 people and has plans for further growth.

Economic and transport minister Andrew Davies said, "The growth of companies like Photogenic is the untold story of the Welsh economy.

"It is the success of such companies that are helping us enjoy such high levels of employment in all areas of Wales, both inside and outside the Objective One area.

"Photogenic is benefiting from the talents and dedication of the workforce in Llanidloes and the value of Wales as a place to do business."

Tony Lake, co-director of Photogenic, said, "We expanded steadily during our first three years in Llanidloes and last year reached the limit of capacity of the original unit and realised we needed to move.

"The WDA had just completed building a new unit on the park which enabled us to double our available manufacturing area and still retain our reliable and dedicated local workforce without having to relocate to continue our growth."

He added, "We originally moved to the region because of the quality of cost effective industrial accommodation. Our production efficiency has improved significantly with this, and our new employees, which has enabled us to become more competitive in the world market and led to us enjoying significant growth as a result."

Its specialist products are used to filter chemicals in photographic processors - machines that develop films - by removing sediment from the liquids which could otherwise damage the processor and the films.

He said, "Photogenic placed its faith in Llanidloes when it moved to the town four years ago. That faith and commitment has paid off for the firm and the people of Llanidloes.

"We are pleased to see the company's growth, and its latest expansion highlights how the agency's investment at Parc Hafren is paying dividends. We look forward to working with Photogenic in the future."